APPROVED

08.01.11

House Passes Debt-Ceiling Bill

Tom Williams / Getty Images

The House of Representatives passed the debt-ceiling deal Monday night by a vote of 269–161. The legislation, if it passes the Senate, will raise the debt ceiling though the end of 2012, and also cut $2.4 trillion over the next decade. Both Republicans and Democrats had previously expressed skepticism about the compromise, so it was not entirely clear whether it would pass going into the vote, though Vice President Joe Biden had previously said of the deal, “I am confident this will pass.” The Senate is preparing to hold a vote on the bill on Tuesday.